[Jazz Intro] Classic Jazz Tracks Recommended for First-Time Listeners
I imagine there are many people who are interested in jazz but don’t know where to start listening.
To be honest, I used to be one of them.
Traditional jazz can seem a bit intimidating, and even when I try some of the recent hit vocal albums, I can’t tell how they’re different from pop.
The more I look into it, the more confusing it gets… you know the feeling.
So I’ve picked out some tracks that balance “clarity” and a genuine “jazz vibe,” ones I can recommend even to first-time listeners.
You might be surprised to recognize some famous tunes and think, “Wait, this is jazz too?”
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[Introduction to Jazz] Classic Jazz Tracks Recommended for First-Time Listeners (21–30)
Almost BlueChet Baker
It may not be all that famous, but as a jazz ballad I absolutely want to introduce this piece.
Chet Baker, who etched his name into jazz history with his lyrical trumpet tone and wistful singing voice, yet lived a ruinous life, often chose to perform Almost Blue in his later years.
Despite its simple melody, each trumpet note speaks to you in a way that a hundred different sounds from other players could never capture.
Jazz allows for this kind of expression, too.
What A Wonderful WorldLouis Armstrong
When people think of songs that even those not interested in jazz know, they often bring up tunes used in Disney films and the like, but among tracks released by jazz musicians, we can’t leave out What a Wonderful World.
Despite being 66 at the time of release, Louis Armstrong topped the UK charts with this song.
Jazz newcomers might be put off by his distinctive voice, but there are many cover versions as well, so be sure to give those a listen too.
Spring, Spring, SpringJohnny Mercer
A charming song with a buoyant melody that brims with springtime vitality and witty lyrics.
The spring scenes depicted by Johnny Mercer, one of America’s preeminent lyricists, warmly convey nature’s joy and renewal through images of creatures like frogs and ducks.
Released in June 1954 by the M-G-M Studio Orchestra, it colored key scenes in that year’s musical film Seven Brides for Seven Brothers.
The piece found new luster in 1976 in a duet by Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.
A heartwarming jazz standard, perfect for morning walks or springtime outings.
CountdownJohn Coltrane
In BLUE GIANT—or rather, for the protagonist Dai Miyamoto—John Coltrane’s presence is tremendously important, and for Dai as a saxophonist, Coltrane is one of the players he reveres most.
It’s no exaggeration to say that Coltrane’s music is essential to fully enjoying the work.
The piece introduced here, Countdown, is the tune Dai performs at the school festival.
It’s included on Giant Steps, a landmark masterpiece in jazz history released in 1960.
Though it’s a short track at just 2 minutes and 20 seconds, the sheer power of Coltrane’s tenor saxophone, blazing with unrestrained freedom, is nothing short of overwhelming.
It’s also a popular piece that many jazz artists have covered, so it’s only natural that Dai would choose this song.
Bags’ GrooveMilt Jackson
There are many pieces composed in a 12-bar style known as “jazz blues.” One of the most famous among them is Bags’ Groove.
While there are performances by many musicians, this time we’re highlighting a rendition by vibraphonist Milt Jackson.
The vibraphone is a type of metallophone, and the idea of playing jazz on a metal percussion instrument might surprise you, but once you listen, don’t you find that its softly shimmering tone—with its distinctive vibrato—fits jazz perfectly?
CaravanDuke Ellington
Released in the United States in 2014, the film Whiplash won three Academy Awards.
In this movie, which depicts the relationship between a young aspiring jazz drummer and his tyrannical instructor, the climactic piece is Caravan.
Not only the performance used in the film, but the piece itself is commonly started with a drum solo, allowing listeners to hear a variety of drum intros depending on the performer’s interpretation.
Many musicians have left outstanding recordings, so it might be fun to compare different versions.
SummertimeElla Fitzgerald
Just from the title, you might imagine an up-tempo, summery tune, but this piece actually originated as a lullaby from the opera Porgy and Bess, which centers on African American life.
Embraced by many jazz musicians, it has secured its place as a jazz standard.
Among the many versions, the one by the legendary jazz singer Ella Fitzgerald is especially moving—not only for her extraordinary vocal prowess, but also for the resonance it carries given her own background as a Black woman and an orphan.